Villanova Men's Basketball
Villanova Preview: Wildcats Host Struggling Georgetown Hoyas

Villanova Men’s Basketball returns to action on Monday, Jan. 20 when they host the Georgetown Hoyas at 6 p.m.
While the Hoyas began the season on a 12-2 tilt, one of the biggest turnarounds in college basketball after going 9-23 last season, they’ve since fallen into a rut, losing their past four games. Villanova managed to snap a two game losing skid on Friday, Jan. 17 when they hosted Providence, but they looked extremely shaky in the narrow win. Even in recent losses, both Georgetown and Villanova have had chances to pull ahead late, but they’ll need positive results if they have any hope of qualifying for the NCAA Tournament this season.
ESPN Analytics sees the Wildcats as a heavy favorite, giving them an 80.9 percent chance of winning, which is substantial even for a home team. The point spread sits at -8.5 in Villanova’s favor, per ESPN Bet, while the over/under stands at 135.5. That’s both because Georgetown is one of the best defensive teams in the country, with a defensive rating of 96.5 (good for 28th place) and because both the Hoyas and the Wildcats employ methodical offenses, limiting the number of possessions taken.
Villanova currently occupies the No. 53 spot in the NET rankings; Georgetown sits at No. 86, so this matchup is close to the boundary between Quad 2 and Quad 3. The KenPom ratings like both teams a bit better, slotting the Wildcats in at No. 52 and the Hoyas at No. 76.
Where to Watch; Who to Watch
FS1 holds broadcasting rights for this matchup. Georgetown runs through freshman forward Thomas Sorber, an ESPN Top 100 recruit for the class of 2024 who attended Philadelphia’s Archbishop Ryan High School and received heavy recruiting from Villanova. While Sorber is reportedly nursing a sore elbow, he stands 6-foot-10 and will likely match up against Eric Dixon, who leads the Wildcats and the nation with 24.7 points per game. Sorber, for his part, leads the Hoyas in points (14.2), rebounds (8.6) and blocks (2.5) per game.
Guards Malik Mack (13.9), Micah Peavy (13.3) and Jayden Epps (13.2) all average more than ten points per game for the Hoyas, with Epps — who’s also banged up right now — serving as one of their best threats from distance. Peavy, at 6-foot-8, is a more than capable threat on the wing and leads the Hoyas with 2.3 steals per game, while Mack’s 4.8 assists pace the team. Even if Sorber and Epps can play, their status is something to keep an eye on.
With similar offensive approaches and one of the best defenses in the country pitted against Villanova’s ninth-ranked offense, this matchup is one to keep a close eye on as both teams try to tread water in the tournament race.